Newcastle pacing: Bright Energy on Derby mission after powerful start

Louth Park trainer Darren Elder is eyeing a campaign at next month’s Victoria Derby with Bright Energy after the gelding returned from a four-month spell with an impressive win at Newcastle.

Bright Energy, owned and bred by Elder’s brother, Michael, was part of a winning double on Friday night for Darren and his driver and son, Brad, who also saluted with Bright And Sonny.

Sent out a $1.20 favourite, Bright Energy worked to the lead and held out late challenges to win the Kevin and Kay Seymour Evolution Series Heat (1609m) by 2.2 metres in 1:56:9.

It was Bright Energy’s first start since winning the NSW Breeders Challenge two-year-old regional final at Bathurst on July 30. He was earlier a finalist in the group 1 edition of the series.

“Bright Energy will head down to Melbourne if he comes up,” Darren said. “He’s in the [Evolution] final next week at Menangle and hopefully he measures up to the better races and we’ll start shipping him around.”

On Saturday night, stable veteran Shannonsablast was second to Monifieth at Menangle for the Elders.

“He went good last night and it was probably his best run this time in,” Darren said. “He did a lot of work, he sat outside the winner and they went 1:51, so I’m really happy with him. He’ll end up being a travelling companion now for the other one.”

Also, Culinary Delight made it three wins in a row at Menangle for Morisset trainer Mark Callaghan.

On Sunday night at Maitland, local rookie Mitch Chapple had his first win as a trainer when Burning Ambition saluted.